Preston Smith

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

too me it makes zero fucking sense in one breath to say hey let's keep the weak link on the Oline and in the other breath say hey lets get rid of our best d-lineman.

Setting aside the Kory bashing, which I don't agree with you on at all, I have to challenge this asinine shit. Hatcher was nowhere near our best lineman, Chris Baker was.

Sacks: Hatcher 2, Baker 6
Tackles: Hatcher 20, Baker 53
Forced Fumbles: Hatcher 1, Baker 3

Ricky Jean had basically the same production as Hatcher in half the snaps. RJF had 26 tackles, 2 sacks, and 1 forced fumble.

I understand stats are an incomplete measure of D-line play. But Baker whips Hatcher on the eye test any day of the week. And I would say Knighton was generally more impactful than Hatcher. You didn't see Hatcher getting double teamed often, you saw Knighton draw it all the time.

I would say Hatcher was our least valuable starting defensive lineman this year. I think Hatcher on the eye test was better than RJF but it's not that cut and dry.

He's in severe decline. Three years ago with Dallas he had 11 sacks. Down to 6 last year. And 2 this year, despite playing in a one-gap that should have suited him much better.

Now let's talk about the cap space issue. Hatcher takes up $8.7M next year, cutting him would save $4.25M. Meanwhile Kory takes up only $4.0M, and cutting him saves us $3.0M. Cutting Hatcher gives you space to sign a starting caliber player, cutting Kory gives you the space to sign an average starting center in the NFL... like Kory Lichtensteiger.